“There was a lot of collaboration amongst my classmates, even the professors, and less competition. That not only allowed me to excel in my studies, but also taught me about business.”
A personal tragedy motivated Vatché Bartekian to embark on his clinical research career.
Months before he began studying Biochemistry at Concordia, his father died suddenly from a mysterious illness even an autopsy couldn’t identify with certainty.
“I didn't want that to happen to other people as well, so I asked myself how I could help,” he says.
Bartekian worked his way up in the clinical-trial industry, and in 2007 founded Vantage BioTrials, an award-winning research organization for international pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies.
During the pandemic, Bartekian has helped others like never before by managing studies with COVID-19 patients, including a potentially lifesaving treatment for reducing serious lung inflammation.
“I call the patients participating in these studies ‘medical heroes.’ There is a lot of good data coming out and hopefully we can get to some type of valid treatment,” he says.
A shift in public perception
“Prior to the pandemic, not a lot of people knew about clinical trials. I want people to realize how important investment in research is, because I don’t feel that a lot of governments out there take the time to understand this.”
A collaborative Concordia experience
“There was a lot of collaboration amongst my classmates, even the professors, and less competition. That not only allowed me to excel in my studies, but also taught me about business. Vantage collaborates with strategic partners that offer complementary services and together we offer our clients a whole package.”
Biggest career motivation
“I've always had a deep yearning and a drive to help others. It’s part of my nature.”
An important cause
“The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, a foundation that awards a prize for those who provide humanitarian aid work across the globe.
“I contributed a story about my grandfather and how he survived the Armenian genocide. I think it’s really important for us to put these stories on paper and in the record somewhere, because there’s still a lot of denial.”